WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pa•tri•ot•ic
(pā′trē ot′ik or, esp. Brit., pa′-),USA pronunciation adj.
pa′tri•ot′i•cal•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- of, like, suitable for, or characteristic of a patriot.
- expressing or inspired by patriotism: a patriotic ode.
- Greek patriōtikós. See patriot, -ic
- Late Latin patriōticus
- 1645–55
pa•tri•ot /ˈpeɪtriət, -ˌɑt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
pa•tri•ot•ic•al•ly, adv.
pa•tri•ot•ism, n. [uncountable]See -patr-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Governmentone who loves and defends his or her country:Is someone who disagrees with one's government any less a patriot?
pa•tri•ot•ic•al•ly, adv.
pa•tri•ot•ism, n. [uncountable]See -patr-.
pa•tri•ot
(pā′trē ət, -ot′ or, esp. Brit., pa′trē ət),USA pronunciation n.
patriot, +n.
- Governmenta person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.
- Governmenta person who regards himself or herself as a defender, esp. of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.
- Military(cap.) a U.S. Army antiaircraft missile with a range of 37 mi. (60 km) and a 200-lb. (90 kg) warhead, launched from a tracked vehicle with radar and computer guidance and fire control.
- Greek patrió̄tēs fellow-countryman, lineage member
- Late Latin patriōta
- Middle French patriote
- 1590–1600
patriot, +n.
- Governmenta person who regards himself or herself as a defender, esp. of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.
'patriotic' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
banzai
- Barbour
- Chénier
- flag-waving
- Foscolo
- loyalist
- national anthem
- Nkomo
- patriot
- Runeberg
- Zanu-PF
- bunting
- Daughters of the American Revolution
- emotionalism
- Empire Day
- exemplar
- flag-waver
- hundred-percenter
- klepht
- loyal
- mutinous
- national
- observance
- politician
- quasi-patriotic
- whig
- zealot
- society
- Sons of Liberty
- spread eagle
- spread-eagleism
- superpatriot